So i have about 800 pieces of American rolling stock to play with, so i need a layout to fit some seriouesly long trains (i'm thinking 30+ wagons plus 2/3 engines). i know its a big ask but i'm interested to see what you guys think.
what would you guys think the minimum limit in size for a layout? I was thinking about the 32foot mark? i don't need much, 2 or 4 main lines and maybe 2 offshoot sidings so depth isn't a problem. however the length needed for such big trains is a problem. I like seeing the large freight trains that travel across the country so will need a big layout.
I will be making its a loop, and hopefully (big fingers crossed) will be making it modular so that i can take it out to shows. i know its alot to ask but hey, i have ALOT of stuff to use. i should also add i have another 2000 or so pieces of Swiss and German Rolling stock.
Any opinions would be really helpful,
Cheers
It's not the number of cars, it's the train length that counts. So put a number on that and use it for planning purposes. This will also help when comparing North American rolling stock to most other, generally shorter rolling stock used elsewhere.
As for layout size vs train length. My main layout room is about 28 feet by 16 feet, with some odd segments clipped out. I have one siding I use for my longest trains, which usually pick up a helper when headed up-grade. It allows a max train length of around 18 feet, or something over 20 cars, plus 3 units and caboose.
One thing to consider are sight lines. Once one end of the train passes out of view, the rest of the visible train could be either 20 cars or 200 cars long, there's no way to judge otherwise. So past a certain point, you'll get diminishing returns for the effort/cost expended.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
A train consisting of 30 40´boxcars plus engines is about 16 ft. long. If you go for modern era cars of a length 60´or even 80´, you end up with a train length of 22 ft. or 30 ft. I´d say for a 32 ft. layout, a train length of 30 ft. is a bit border line.
Welcome aboard!
I model the steam and transition eras, so my rolling stock is mostly 40-foot cars and I run mostly short, 4-axle diesels. This lets me have tighter curves, too.
Originally, my layout was a 5x12 foot table. The main line was a single loop running mostly around the perimeter. I'm in HO scale, by the way, which is an important thing to know when comparing train length and layout size. I have since added on a 19-foot x 2 1/2 foot addition.
I typically run trains of 8 to 10 cars. I still have a single-track main line, but it extends all the way around. I've got 3 sets of passing sidings spaced around the loop. If I concentrate, I can run two trains in opposite directions and keep them moving by throwing switches and watching their speed carefully.
I found that the original section was too small, even for those short trains. With the current configuration, I've got about 65 feet of continuous-running layout, and each train is about 6 feet long. This works. So, roughly, I'd say you need 10 feet of main line for each foot of train length. Of course, this is only my opinion.
One thing that makes the illusion better, for me, is "train hiding." As a train goes along the long back wall, it goes behind a string of tall buildings. It's not a solid wall or view block, but rather a group of buildings along a street, with cross streets, alleys and parking lots. Trains are visible between the buildings, but since you never see more than a car or two at a time, they lose their "integrity" as a train. You can accomplish the same thing with tunnels, mountains or trees.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Problem solved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wevbi_zEmxc
Steve S
My room is 15' x 24' and after pondering your question I think Mr. B is spot on with his 10% suggestion. I have run trains of all lengths trying to figure out what looks good on my layout and the 10% on down is a good starting point. However, if you can't see the whole room from where you operate from, (unlike me) a longer train may be fine.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
crazydrum95i need a layout to fit some seriouesly long trains (i'm thinking 30+ wagons plus 2/3 engines). .... what would you guys think the minimum limit in size for a layout?
In that case I say the MINIMUM size of the "loop" is slightly more than 4x the desired train length. Why is complicated and the actual layout design would also come into play. But basically at that size the train would not look like it was going two directions at once. Each 1/4th would "fill" a 90 degree section of the layout. I'm not suggesting a curve that large nor a boring square sided oval but the theoretic concept still applies.
As another poster already mentioned it isn't the number of cars but the length of the train. At the museum I operate on the ore train and chemical train have the most number of cars (approx 80 each) but they are not the longest. The ore cars are only 21' long. While one of the through freights only has 65 cars it is much longer.
Well, a lot depends on your planned operating style. Do you want to walk along with the train or just sit in one place and watch it go by. Do you want to see the whole train at once ot just watch a lot of cars pass by close up.
You could easily set up a spiral of several loops with only the outer one visible and run a long train in a small space with you sitting at one place watching the cars go by. OTOH if you want to be able to see a 20'-30' train all at once as you walk along beside it through the country side, you'll need a few hundred feet of benchwork.
Enjoy
Paul
My layout is a 'C' shape 14 x 19 x13 and it has about 75' of single track main with 2 passing sidings. One time on just a whim, I ran a train 107 cars long with 3 engines up front and 2 more about half way in the train. The train extended 2/3's around the layout. I very commonly run trains 45 cars long with 3-4 locomotives.
I consider my layout to be on the small end of medium...if we view large, medium, and small...with each having range.
So in direct answer to the question. Not necessarily. Make your layout expandable.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.